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Article

B5RLE Hybrid Bus Trial

31 Aug 2016

In conjunction with Volvo Bus Australia, Latrobe Valley Bus Lines will be trialling Victoria’s first Volvo B5RLE Hybrid route bus service, beginning in the second week of August 2016. This will be the first instance of the Volvo B5RLE Hybrid featuring parallel technology in Victoria, with the bus to be in service for a minimum of three months.

Cities and regions across the world face many urban challenges, including pollution, congestion, and the use of natural energy resources. Given the Latrobe Valley’s history as Victoria’s main energy provider, the region is no exception to these problems. Combined with Latrobe City’s aim of becoming the engineering capital of Australia, Latrobe Valley Bus Lines feel Hybrid technology is a step in the right direction for their bus fleet.

Latrobe Valley Bus Lines have a history of progressive actions of supporting the local community and showing environmental consideration. In 2015, the company introduced the first environmentally efficient Volvo Euro 6 route service bus in Victoria, achieved B Corp Certification for displaying verified social and environmental responsibility to the community, and in August this year they introduced two additional Volvo Euro 6 buses to the fleet.

The Volvo B5RLE Hybrid has proven in commercial operations to be the most fuel efficient and reliable hybrid bus on the European market. The Volvo parallel system is based on the basic principal that an electric motor works in parallel with a diesel engine to drive the vehicle, and utilises energy otherwise wasted during braking. The B5RLE Hybrid is able to depart bus stops silently, in full electric mode, saving fuel and increasing passenger comfort. To be specific, the B5RLE Hybrid uses 30% to 40% less fuel than a conventional diesel bus and in terms of exhaust emissions, is capable of 40% reductions.

Based on the success of the trial, Latrobe Valley Bus Lines is keen to introduce hybrid bus technology into its fleet of route service buses within the next 5 years, taking further steps towards an environmentally friendly bus fleet.

Article

Made In Melbourne

04 Jun 2015

Melbourne's Streetscape is changing. When the Regional Rail Link is officially opened in Victoria on June 21, a Volvo double-decker bus will begin a 6 month trial monitored by Public Transport Victoria on the streets of Wyndham Vale, Tarneit and Werribee. The high-capacity double-decker bus body, which is integrated with a Volvo B9TL bus chassis, has 88 seats and capacity for 111 passengers.

However, the most pleasing news is the fact that the bus was designed and manufactured in Dandenong by local bus body builder Volgren, a company that employs about 250 staff at its Dandenong plant and 500 Australia-wide. Volgren also exports double-decker buses to Singapore and Hong Kong, and articulated buses to Japan.

Look out for these more comfortable and safer Volvo double-decker buses on our Melbourne streets, as CMV Truck & Bus believe they will be a great addition to our local public transport services.

WORLD FIRST. In December 2014, Volvo’s first Euro 6 articulated bus, the Volvo B8RLEA, was delivered to the Public Transport Authority of Western Australia (PTA) in Perth. It is the first of 70 low floor articulated units to be delivered to the PTA over the next 5 years.

The new Euro 6 Volvos will replace the Authority’s older articulated buses in order to retain high capacity transport along their busiest routes in metro Perth. The 18 metre long buses, bodied by Volgren, can carry over one hundred passengers - including 57 seated. With step less entry and flip up seats in the front for flexibility, the new vehicles will also assist less mobile passengers. Replacing its Euro V predecessor, the B12BLEA, the new model Volvo B8RLEA comes equipped with Volvo’s latest 350hp, Euro 6 engine. This engine is common across a number of models in Volvo’s Buses’ new Euro 6 range and is shared across the Volvo Group including Volvo Trucks. It delivers excellent drivability, a wide economical rev range and 1400Nm of torque. For more information click here.